Newbies

It's been a while since I've written, and my only excuse is that we have youngsters running around here keeping me busy now! The new team of Bethany interns arrived a couple of weeks ago, and we've had a blast helping them get settled in.  We planned an amazing race type game to help them get to know town, which made them dive right into the culture here-the first full day they were here!  

It's strange watching them make observations like we did at the beginning, and it's even more strange realizing how much we have changed since we left.  I feel like an old lady sometimes because the newbies are so enthusiastic and constantly want to be DOING something! haha!  We've become so laid back and flexible, even our personalities have mellowed and adjusted to fit with each other.  I can just barely remember feeling frustrated at my lack of independence as a female and wanting to fill up every day with activity, but those things are very new and real for the new team.  

In some ways I feel like a parent might (not that I'm their mom...it's just an analogy).  I desperately want this team to succeed, to fit into this culture and to effectively declare the love of Christ in this community.  I want them to do more, go further than we have, but there's the prideful tug of not wanting our weaknesses to be exposed by their excellence.  If they are better at building relationships than I am, will I be able to rejoice for the advance of the kingdom or will I try to make excuses for why I couldn't have done it, or even worse why they shouldn't be doing it?  I'm learning a whole new level of humility right now, and it's not very pretty.  I can see enormous potential for this team to more effectively share the gospel here than we have, but I also see the danger that accompanies such an outgoing and dynamic group-that in a desire to engage and spread the kingdom, they will overstep culturally because of their newness and ignorance.  

Unfortunately, ignorance is kind of unavoidable when crossing cultures.  I mean, we're sharing as much as we can of what we've learned and what has been passed on to us from others, but some lessons have to be learned firsthand.  So when one of the newbies asks 'why can't we do this?', I have to do a little bit of wrestling.  Do I respond out of legitimate caution based on cultural aspects they are unaware of, or do I feel threatened by their boldness in an area I was unable to overcome during my time here?  If I respond out of fear, I will not only pass on that illegitimate fear but I will hinder the advance of the gospel in this community.  

Wow.  Ok, no matter what it costs my ego, I don't want to be the reason the gospel is withheld from these people!  I want to encourage their inquisitive and adventurous selves without letting them run into traps that would endanger their witness.  What a fine balance.

On a more lighthearted note, MY FAMILY IS COMING!!! They're actually on the plane right now...or waiting in some airport between Detroit and Nairobi.  I'll be picking them up from the airport tomorrow night and bringing them to Gssa for 2 weeks of adventures and such.  I am soooo extremely excited to have them here finally and can't believe that God has blessed us so abundantly.  It was only like 3 weeks ago that my mom started saying she might actually come...then all of a sudden my mom, dad, AND sister had tickets and luggage overflowing with gifts!  WEEEE!  

I am so thankful to be a part of a family and church that is so generous...it amazes me.  Whew...I'm so blessed. :)